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Chapter 26: The Wolf and the Flayed Man
The North
He was befuddled. Confused. Wary of what he sees.
Arthur had assumed the bastard would be hiding, and yes, the camp is against the treeline but still out in the open, hanging on the banks of the Last River.
There are signs of battle, the convoy that was bringing Rickon home. He spotted heads on pikes, nine in total a few feet from one another. The skinned bodies of others were all around the opened area, the bastard was even flying the colors of Roose Bolton, he scoffed and thought as if it makes him any trueborn than the litters of a rat.
"Mors? The damned bastard put my uncle's head is on a pike." The Greatjon said with disgust, angry as many were when seeing their countrymen being desecrated in this way.
"For that, you will lead the charge, I doubt they'll survive the first charge." He promised the Greatjon who grunted in approval before walking out into the field, the men were lined up and ready for the fight to begin.
"Who owns the North?" Greatjon asked the men, they cried out that they do, "Who owns the North?!" Lord Umber shouted out, the same response but louder from the men, "Then show me!" Greatjon turned back to him, waiting for the signal.
"Alright, get started... " He was speaking before he saw from the lines of men fighting for Ramsay, the bastard appeared.
He had Rickon, his hands were bound and being led by Ramsay like some goat being led by its herder.
"What's happening?" Rickard asked him and he shook his head, "It's a trap, your Grace, give the command to charge." And risk his brother's safety? He shook his head again and grabbed the reins of his horse.
Ramsay looked at him directly, smiling widely before cutting his brother free. They were speaking to one another, then the bastard pushed his brother along as if telling him to come to him.
"Get a someone to get my brother, take another horse." He ordered and a rider rode out, taking a mount with him to get his brother.
The situation was getting tense, he wasn't sure and he looked to Rickard, silently asking if the battle plans were assured and the Lord of Karhold nodded.
When they received word of the Dreadfort's fall, and the news of Rickon's survival by Mors, then the pink letter sent to him via raven from the North by the bastard. He knew that he had to be smart when riding out.
The original plan was while his army clashed with Ramsay's own, Rickard's uncle Arnolf and cousins, Cregan and Arthor would bring 300 men at Ramsay's rear and take his camp wherever it would be. They would crush the Last Bolton and wipe out the traitor's house and line.
"Why would Ramsay want a straight fight, he doesn't have the men, and to surrender his hostage? I don't like this, Arthur." He heard Harrion say to him, he agreed to that statement and wished he could go ahead and order the attack but not while Rickon is on the field.
He turned his head back and the rider had nearly made it to Rickon, then the arrow hit the soldier, another hit his brother and both fell to the ground and his breathing became hard.
Time seemed to slow down, in the moments his brother breathed his last, to the horses who ran back and to the moment his rage boiled to complete and utter ferocity.
"Charge!" He yelled out and he led the cavalry down to the river and Ramsay's lines, he will have the bastard's head for this.
Ramsay's men nocked and loosed arrows at the charge, some men died and horses too but it didn't stop them. He was sure they would run down the enemy with subtle force, that was until a force of riders came through the woods, men wearing a variation of the Karstark sigil, a black sun on a field of white.
The two cavalry forces clashed, he swung his longsword and took the head of a soldier, the charge broke and the fighting commenced with more arrows raining down on them. He ducked and evaded them with the use of his shield, his helm deflected quite a few as well.
"Envelope them!" He roared and Harrion turned his horse to go out into the open, the man suffered an arrow to the shoulder as he got out and rode up to the hill.
The Stark force of infantry began marching down, the plan was to make Ramsay's men come out so Arnolf can attack from behind. He noticed Rickard was fighting his own kin so he mustn't be behind this. Ambition makes men into monsters, what did he offer you, Arnolf? What do you get for killing my family? He thought as he continued fighting Red Karstarks and Bastard men.
He feels like a fool, should have brought more men, should have gone all out and brought all his men to kill Ramsay and everyone.
Ramsay and his men joined the fighting, tearing men from their horses and stabbing them, mounted spears ran down the traitor's men. He fought down the worries and fell back into his lust for battle.
He felt a feeling and turned his horse only to get speared in the heart, he buckled and fell down and he cursed himself, the second horse and he really liked the first one, this horse had a nice white coat and black mane which he was fond of. He groaned and pushed himself away so he could avoid a spear or sword.
"Dread Wolf, once you are dead, once my cousin and later on, my father is dead, I will be the next Warden of the North... Promised by the Hand of the King." So Tywin knows about it all, not surprising considering that the spies of King's Landing know of the last shit someone had taken a fortnight before.
He concluded that the Lannisters are trying to stop the North from being unified under a Stark of Winterfell, Tywin wants someone he can control and since that failed with Roose Bolton, the scorned and insignificant kin of House Karstark would be the second option. He doubts that the Old Lion would want someone as insane as Ramsay to be the Warden of the North.
"Then come and kill me, then, traitor!" He cursed the man, ready for the fight and the older Karstark came at him with wild rage.
He killed Cregan a few moments later, digging his sword in the man's shoulder but didn't bother to take it out. He reached his back and pulled out Ice, holding it with both of his hands and charging into the fray.
Using a greatsword is hard work but once you get into a rhythm, it becomes quite easy. He hacked and hammered his way deep into the center of the river.
Eventually, he found himself at the edge going into the forest and found Ramsay Snow waiting for him. He hacked one man in two and thrust the valyrian steel into another's gut, piercing the plate and mail under. He took a few deep breaths and turned back to Ramsay, the bastard was grinning at him.
"You've come very far, Dread Wolf, I'm afraid it is in vain." He didn't get to question the bastard before being hit in the left shoulder by an arrow shot from behind Ramsay. "Thank you, love." A young woman appeared, ready with another arrow for him which was aimed at his chest.
Looking behind him, he smiled, the army of traitors are nearly spent, their attempt to surprise them has failed miserably, but, he fears that he was the target here and not a victory over an army.
"My King!" Harrion cried out, the man was fighting to get across the river but he wouldn't come in time.
Ramsay smirked and began walking towards him, a blood red blade was in his hand and he tried to get up but couldn't.
Was he going to die? He grunted and shouted at Ramsay, "Get on with it, bastard!" Ramsay's pale eyes twitched in anger, he told him that he was going to enjoy this before bringing down his knife into his shoulder where the arrow was.
He was dead, he knew it was coming and he closed his eyes and was ready to return to his family in the next life. I'm sorry, I couldn't save you Rickon, forgive me. It was his last thought before the end... But it didn't happen.
Dusk had sensed his master was in danger, he tore the throat from a Bolton soldier before running across the river and jumping at Ramsay, the Bastard of Bolton screamed and hollered as Dusk tore at his arm. The woman tried to intervene but Grey Wind got her from behind, chomping at her head until it was crushed.
Arthur groaned as he got to his feet, he lifted Ice up and approached the bleeding Bastard. "Ramsay Snow, bastard of House Bolton. I, Arthur of the House Stark sentence you to death." He raised Ice up and brought it down on Ramsay Snow, ending the bastards life and avenging all those who he killed, including Rickon.
The remaining warriors who supported Ramsay threw down their weapons, little less than a hundred were left and he didn't spare them a second glance and ordered all of their deaths, the same will happen to any House that has sworn allegiance to House Stark and broke their oaths.
He walked and pulled a body off of his brother and knelt by him, letting the tears fall as he stroked Rickon's head.
"I'm so sorry... " He whispered and looked up, the crows were flying above them, a nice day for it. "Get a wagon, pick up our dead, just ours." He told Greatjon who nodded and went to get it done.
"What about the others?" Howland asked him, he forgot the silent man joined the force to come here.
"Leave them for the crows, the horses we carve up for meat, it will be a harsh winter this time around." Howland seemed shocked about leaving the dead traitors, he didn't bother acknowledging it.
The army was preparing to march back to Winterfell before a group of men approached, "Your grace." He turned to them as he was about to mount up on a new horse.
"What is it?"
He didn't believe them, he walked back to Ramsay's camp which stretched a bit from the banks of the Last River. He found where Ramsay kept his dogs, they barked and looked wild, he had them put to death as he walked to the last cage and met eyes with someone he thought would have died in the hands of the bastard.
"... Theon?"
The Eyrie
Petyr Baelish watched Sansa walk around with her cousin, Robert. He smiled and unrolled a scroll of which he read and it was surprising.
The North is all but unified under Arthur Snow, the King in the North. He was waiting to move on the North for Sansa until it was clear who will win it whether it was Arthur Snow, the last son of House Stark, Stannis Baratheon when he makes it to the Wall or the various Northmen or Ironborn who had claimed the land.
Now he knows who to put his support behind, that is until Arthur is replaced and he gets what he wants out of all the scheming and planning he has done these past many years.
King Joffrey is dead. Tyrion Lannister will soon be dead. The Tyrells and Lannisters will be fighting over Tommen who is to be the new King on the Iron Throne. They aren't worth the trouble of using to succeed in his future endeavors.
"Sansa, my dear, please come here." Sansa nodded and climbed the steps to be by him, "Good news from the North, your brother has defeated the last of House Bolton and traitor Northmen, it is time to take you home." He smirked and she looked genuinely happy to hear that from him.
He hopes she remembers who made this possible for her to go home, perhaps one day she will repay him as her mother should have repaid him long ago.
King's Landing
Tywin Lannister sighed as he put down the scroll from one of Varys spies in the North.
The Dread Wolf surprises him yet again, obtaining another victory, three in total since he has taken back Moat Cailin. Not long ago had word come in about the fall of Highpoint and now the Greyjoys at Deepwood Motte will soon feel the power of a unified North.
The North and House Stark seems to be a splinter he cannot remove, so, he will leave it be for now. They are staying in the North and he is sure they will remain there with Winter coming. Hah! Winter is Coming, I can only hope you have learned the lesson of marching to the South, House Stark. He thought as he turned his mind back to other matters.
His son is under arrest for the assassination of his grandson, the trial has begun but today he is sure his son will either be found guilty or will confess and face the consequence of the crime.
"Father, I have come to make a request." He looked up and saw his eldest son, Jaime standing before him and his new golden hand that replaced the one he lost.
He sighed and nodded for his son to sit, near the end of the hour, an agreement was made, his son will confess his guilt and ask to be sent to the Wall and serve the Night's Watch and his eldest will retire from the Kingsguard and return to be the Lord of Casterly Rock.
He almost grinned as his son did what was needed and he got his heir back in that agreement.
Maegors Holdfast
Gerold Dayne opened his chamber door and found the Queen looking right at him, hatred and anger in her eyes.
"What can I do for you, your Grace?" He asked with a smirk and she took a deep breath before making the request.
"I want you to fight for the crown, fight when the time comes and I will ensure that you get what you desire." He cocked his head back, scoffing at the Queen.
"And what could I possibly want?" He knows she knows, and he loves that she wants to offer what should be his.
"Fight for me... And I will give you Dawn."
AN: The battle and a couple of important PoV's. Now I understand some may be angry with me for why I intend to have Oberyn go out the same way but less bloody but it offers room to expand the soon to be rival between Gerold and Arthur/Ashara/Edric. Just trust me.
ZabuzasGirl, I will get an update for that very soon, I just want these to get to a point before I do along with a couple of others.
Jason Kreuger Myers, I chose yours with a little variation, thanks for the suggestion.
Jiubantai-taichoCalmejaneJose, A great suggestion, and good points but I have intentions to have Arthur/Dany get together but there will be some butting of heads and he'll act very strong but Jon will caution against making enemies with the Dead coming to get them.
CEW, Ramsay did pull his tricks, he's a mind player and that's what makes him dangerous. Arya, I'm afraid had to remain at Winterfell for there must always be a Stark there to rule.
Lord Villarreal of house Grand, Asher Forrester will have a part to play in taking Deepwood Motte, the Battle of Ironrath and Siege of Highpoint were done offscreen as they were happening the same time as the Battle of the Bastards (my version).
Joharasbel, Thank you very much.
Intemperance24, Much of the Dornish plot for this story surounds mostly House Dayne (Arthur/Ashara/Edric/Allyria/Gerold) The rest will happen as they did except for the stupid decision of Ellaria and her daughters overthrowing Doran and Trystane. Mya's character will develop a little further as she teams up with Beric, Sandor, and Thoros who she's known since she was a girl.
Hear My Fury, Well, he did have a trick if not for Tywin butting his head in this. The Lannisters/Tywin never give up on the hunt.
Until next time, love you all 3000!